Process for making closures.



N. M. LA PORTE.

PROCESS FOR MAKING CLOSURES.

APPLICATION FILED Aue.2, 1913.

1!. ,1] %9,,2OO. Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

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NORIBERT M. LA PORTE, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE CROWN CORKAND SEAL COMPANY OF BALTIMORE CITY, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, A CORPO-BATION or MARYLAND.

PROCESS FOR MAKING CLOSURE S.

Patented Aug. 10, 1915.

Application filed August 2, 1913. Serial No. 782,572.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NORBERT M. LA PORTE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Baltimore city and State of Maryland, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Processes for Making Glosures, fullydescribed and represented in thefollowing specification and theaccompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

This 'nvention relates to an improvement in proc sses for makingclosures for bottles and the like, and particularly to a process ofmaking closuresof that type heretofore known as crown corks.

Closures of the type to which this inven tion generally relates haveusually comprised a metallic shell, a sealing disk, and an intermediatesticking material which is rendered adhesive by heat and set by cooling,as, for instance, a mixture of rosin, copal and paraffin.

was maintained until the sticking material had set. As the crownsrequired time to cool, the speed of production was correspondinglylimited.

Closures of the type to which the invention relates are made byautomatic ma,- chinery in very large quantities and are widely used forbottling liquids which vary widely in their characteristics. Under somecircumstances, the liquids bottled or sealed under the closure areliable to work through or-around the sealing disk and come in contactwitlf the adhesive. While this is not serious in a large percentage ofcases, in some instances, some liquids, particularly beverages, areinjuriously affected either in appearance or taste by the adhesive. Ithas not, however, been possible to; select adhesives for particularliquids, as the conditions of manufacture govern the adhesive employedirrespective ofthe particular use to' which the closure is to be put,and the After heating, according to.

adhesives used or suggested for securing the sea-ling disk of a closureof the type referred to to its metal shell have injuriously affectedsome of the liquids or beverages sealed under the closure.

A closure of the type to which this invention is applicable is shown inthe accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a sectional view of aclosure, in which the sealing disk is secured to the shell by a layer offibrous material carrying the sticking material; and Fig. 2 is a similarview of a modification, in which the sealing disk is secured to theshell by a disk of sticking material.

The object of the present invention is to provide a process for themanufacture of closures of the type mentioned which will enable them tobe made more rapidly than has heretofore been the case, while at thesame time producing a closure having important advantages over thoseheretofore produced.

Withthis object in view, the process embodying the invention, broadlyconsidered, comprises interposing between the shell and the sealing diska cementing layer comprising a sticking material which, althoughnormally non-adhesive, is capable of being rendered adhesive andthereafter of being set or hardened when heated to a proper temperature. Said cementing layer also comprises a substance which whenheated to a temperature below that at which the sticking material setsor hardens will render said sticking material adhesive. A cement inglayer of this kind may be handled whilst?!) in'a non-adhesive conditionand when in 1 place it is only-necessary to subject it to heat in orderto first render the cementing layer adhesive and then to set or hardenit. A cementing layer having the properties above mentioned may beproduced. by the juxtaposition or mixture of a sticking materialcomprising an albuminous substance with a substance capable of givingofl moisture when subjected to heat, such for instance as crystallinemagnesium chlorid.

The albuminous material has great advantages for use in the mannerdescribed, be-

cause it will set or harden by coagulation at a temperature below theboiling po nt of water and notwithstanding the presence of moisture orwater. -When,. therefore, such an albuminous -material is interposedbetween the shell and sealing disk of a closure, it is not necessary toevaporate any water which may be associated with the albuminous materialin its adhesive condition in order to obtain a perfect setting'orhardening of such albuminous material. This property of albumen to setor coagulate without regard to the presence ofmoisture or water andbelow the boiling point of water is of great importance in themanufacture of crown corks because the cementing layer is so inclosedbetween the shell and the sealing disk as to provide little or noopportunity for the escape of the moisture from the cementing layer. Anyattempt,

therefore, to drive ofi'moisture by heating to a temperature above theboiling point of water. may result in the creation of a vapor pressurebetween the sealing disk and shell, which would separate, the two andrender the closures defective. A further advantage of the setting of thealbumen at a low aturein order to unite the sealing disks and i soshells and therefore there is no danger of injury to the decoratedshells now widely employed.

Magnesium chlorid is advantageous for use in the manner above specified,because it contains a relatively high percentage of Water, as water ofcrystallization, and will release or evolve such water at a tempera"ture below that at which the albuminous substance coagulates.

. thin paper is used; it may be impregnated by immersing it in asolution of albuminous material and the reacting substance, such ascrystalline magnesium chlorid, and thereafter dried. Disks punched fromsuch paper may then be interposed between the shell and sealing disk andsubjected to the requisite amount of heat inorder to produce the desiredunion of the shell and sealing disk, pressure being appliedto theclosure during the heating operation where this is requisite in order tobring all the parts into close contact. In the best embodiment of my.invention, the carrier of fibrous material,-usually paper, is properlycharged with a suitable filler and advantageously a.

filler which is fusible or capable of soften ing at a temperature at orbelow that at which albuminous material will coagulate.

shell and the sealing disk.

Such a filler properly applied prevents Waste of thesticking material,which may be applied-to the filler-charged carrier as a surface coatingon each side thereof. If a parafin is the filler employed, the carrier,

minous material and magnesium chlorid and then dried. I have found thata solution containing about 5% of albumen and 8% of magnesium chlorid issuitable for the purpose intended. it disk punched from a cementinglayer comprising such a paraffincharged carrier coated with thealbuminous material and the crystalline magnesium' chlorid may beinterposed between the shell and sealing disk and the assembled closuresubjected to pressure and heat, whereupon the moisture evolved from thecrystalline magnesium chlorid will moisten the albuminous material andrender the same adhesive,

and then the albuminous material, as soon as the cementing'layer hasreached a somewhat higher temperature, will be coagulated so as to setor harden and firmly unite the shell and sealing disk.

In practice, the heating of the cementing layer is usually accomplishedby applying heat to the shell, this heat being transmitted through theshell to the cementing layer.

The latter need notbe raised'much above recedes from the surface of thefibrous material, so that the sticking material attaches itself to thefibrous material of the carrier, thus producing a firm union between theHence, with a carrier having its surface charged with a proper fillerand its interior porous, the advantage is obtained that the stickingniaterial is applied to a smooth non-absorbent carrier surface and hencewaste of sticking -mater1al is avoided, while on "the other hand, whenthe closure is completed, the sticking material adheres to the surfaceof the fibrousmaterial so that it may properly combine therewith.Another highly important advantage of the albuminous material is that itis insoluble in potable liquids when set, so that it cannot in any wayaffect the taste of beverages in receptacles sealed by a closure made inthe manner described.

indicates the, metal shell, 2 the cork disk,

and 3 the intermediate cementing layer, in this case comprising a diskof fibrous material, such as paper coated with the stick-- ing material.

While I have particularly mentioned a crystalline magnesium chlorid as areacting substance to be used in conjunction with a stickingmaterialjcapable of being set by heat, it is to be understood that thereare other materials which may be employed in place thereof.

Instead of using a fibrous carrier with a surface coating of thesticking material and reacting substance as hereinbefore described, Imay prepare a plastic composition comprising a filler, such as clay,gypsum, in-

fusorial earth, or other similar oxid, and a.

solution of the albuminous material and crystalline substance; and fromthis plastic mass may form the desired disks, as for example by firstrolling the plastic mass into sheets or strips and then drying the sameand punching the disks therefrom. These disks may then be used in thesame manner as the disks of cementing material hereinbefore described. Aclosure made in accordance with this form of the invention isillustrated in, Fig. 2, wherein 1 i the metal shell, 2 the sealing diskof cork or the like, and 4 theslayer of sticking material.

I claim- 1. In the art of making closures compris- .ing a shell and asealing disk, the process which consists in interposing between theshell and the sealing disk a cementing layer comprising a stickingmaterial capable of being set by the action of heat, and a substancecapable of evolving under. the action of heat, a solvent of saidsticking material, and then subjecting said cementing layer to heat,whereby the sticking material isrendered adhesive and set;

2. In the art of making closures compris.

ing a shell and a sealing disk, the process which consists ininterposing between. the shell and the sealingdisk a cementing layercomprising a sticking material capable of being set by the action ofheat, and a subtance capable of evolving, under the action of heat, asolvent of said sticking material, submitting the closure to pressure,and then subjecting said cementing layer to heat,

vwhereby the sticking material is rendered adhesive and set.

3. In the art of making closures comprising a shell and a sealing disk,the process which consists in interposing between the shell. and thesealing disk a cementing layer comprising a sticking material capable ofbeing rendered adhesive by moisture and of ing a shell and a sealingdisk, the process which consists in interposing between the shell andthe sealing disk a cementing layer comprising asticking material capableof being rendered adhesive by moisture and of being set by heat, saidcementing layer also comprising a substance capable of evolving moistureunder the action of a heat less than that necessary to set the stickingmaterial, ubmitting the closure to pressure, and then subjecting thesaid cementing layer to heat to evolve said moisture and to set thestickmg material.

5. In the art of making closures comprising a shell and a sealing disk,the process which consists in interposing between the shell and thesealing disk a cementing layer comprising a sticking material capable ofbeing rendered adhesive by moisture and of being set by heat, and alsocomprising a crystalline substance capable of giving off its water ofcrystallization at a temperature less than that necessary to set thesticking material, and then subjecting the cementing layer to heat,whereby the sticking material is rendered adhesive and then set.

6. In the art of making closures comprising a shell and a sealing disk,the process which consists in interposing between the shell and thesealing disk a cementing layer comprising a sticking material capable ofI less than that necessary to set the sticking material, submitting theclosure to pressure,

and then subjecting the cementing layer to heat, whereby the stickingmaterial is rendered adhesive and set. v

- 7. In the art of making closures comprising a shell and a sealingdisk, the process which consists in int/erposing between the shell andthe sealing disk a cementing layer comprising a moisture-solublealbuminous material, and a substance capable of evolving moisture whenheated to a temperature less than that required to coagulate thealbuminous material, and then raising the temperature of the cementinglayer, whereby first the moisture is evolved and the albuniinoussubstance rendered adhesive, and then the said valbuminous substance iscoagulated. I

8. In the art of making closures comprising a shell and a sealing disk,the process which consists in interposing between the shell and thesealing disk a cementing layer comprising a moisture-soluble albuminousmaterial, and a substance capable of evolving moisture when heated to atemperature less than that required to coagulate the al buminousmaterial, submitting the closure to pressure, and then raising thetemperature of the cementinglayer, whereby first the moisture is evolvedand the albuminous substance gendered adhesive, and then the saidalbuminous substance is coagulated.

9. In the art of making closures comprising a shell and a sealing disk,the process which consists in interposing between the v shell and thesealing disk a cementing layer comprising a moisture-soluble albuminousmaterial anda crystalline substance which will give ofi water at atemperature less than that necessary to coagulate the albulay r to heat,whereby it is rendered adhe- [11183, and then subjecting the cementingthat necessary to coagulate the albumen, subjecting the closure topressure, and then subjecting the cementing layer to heat,whereby it isfirst rendered adhesive and then set,

11. In the art of making closures comprising a shell and a sealing disk,the process which consists in interposing between the shell and thesealing disk a cementing layer comprising a soluble-albuminous materialand crystalline magnesium chlorid, and then progressively increasing thetemperature of the cementing layer, whereby the latter is first renderedadhesiye and then set.

12. In the art of making'closures comprising a shell and a sealing disk,the process which consists in interposing between the shell and thesealing disk a cementing layer comprising a soluble-albuminous materialand crystalline magnesium chlorid, submitting the closure to pressure,and then progressively increasing the temperature of the cementinglayer, whereby the latter is first rendered adhesive and then set.

13. In the art of making closures comprising a shell and a sealingdisk,the process which consists ininterposing between the I shell andthe sealing disk a cementinglayer comprising a carrier of fibrousmaterial coated with a sticking material capable of being renderedadhesive by moisture and of being set by heat in combination with acrystalline substance capable of giving off its water of crystallizationat a temperature less than that necessary to set the material, and thensubjecting the cementing v I layer to-heat, whereby it is renderedadhesive and then set.- v

14. In the art of maldng closures comprising a shell and a sealing disk,the process which consists in interposing between the shell and thesealing disk a cementing layer comprising a carrier of fibrous materialcoated with a sticking material capable of beingtrendered adhesive bymoisture and of being set by heat in combination with a crystallinesubstance capable of giving ofi' its water of crystallization at atemperature less than that necessary to set the sticking material,submitting the closure to pressure, and then subjecting the cementinglayer to heat, whereby it is rendered adhesive and then set. I

15. In the art of making closures comprising a shell and a sealing disk,the process which consists in. interposing between the shell and thesealing disk a cementing layer comprising a carrier of fibrous materialcoated with a soluble albuminous material and a crystalline substancewhich will;give oil water at a temperature less than thatnecessaryiocoagulatethe albumen, and then subjecting the cementing layerto a tempera-- ture suficient to drive ofi the water from thecrystalline substance and to set the albuminous material.

16. In theart of making closures comprising a shell and a sealing disk,the process which consists in interposing between the shell and thesealing disk a cementing layer comprising a carrier of fibrous materialcoated with a soluble albuminous material and a crystalline substancewhich will give ofi waterat a temperature less than that necessary tocoagulate the albumen, submitting the closure to pressure, and then subjecting the cementing layer first to a temperature suflicient to driveofi the water from the crystalline substance to set thalbuminousmaterial, c j I 17. In the art of making closures comprising ashell and a sealing disk, the process.

which consists in interposing between the; shell and the sealing disk acementing layer comprising a carrier of paper coated with a solublealbuminous material and a crystal- 7 line substance which will give ofi'water at a temperature less than that necessary to coagulate thealbumen, and then subjecting the cementing layer to a temperaturesulficientto drive oil the water from the crystalline substance and toset the albuminous material.

18. In the art of making closures 'comprising a shell and a sealingdisk, the process which consists in interposing between the shell andthe sealing disk a cementing layer comprising a carrier of paper coatedwith a soluble albuminous material and a crystalh line substance whichwill giveofi water at a temperature less than that necessary tocoagulate the albumen, submitting the closure to pressure, and thensubjectin the cementing layer to a temperature su cient to drive off theWater from the crystalline substance and to set the albuminous material.

19. In the art of making closures comprising ashell and a sealing disk,the process which consists in interposing between the shell and thesealing disk a cementing layer comprising a carrier of paper chargedwith .a filler and coated with a soluble albuminous material and acrystalline substance which will give off water at a temperature lessthan prising a shell and a sealing disk, the process which consists ininterposing between the shell and the sealing disk a cementing layercomprising a carrier of paper charged with a filler and coated with asoluble albuminous material and a crystalline substance which will giveoil water at a temperature less than that necessary to coagulate thealbumen, submitting the closure to pressure, and then subjecting thecementing layer to a temperature suflicient to drive ofi' the water fromthe crystalline substance and to set the albuminous material.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

H. M. LAITHE, E. E. LOVELL.

